What is Linnaeus system of classification?

Answer 1

Linnaean taxonomy is a system of classification that divides all living things into hierarchical groups based on their characteristics. (i.e Living things are divided into groups, the groups are then divided into smaller groups and so on until every living thing has a distinct name due to their distinct characteristics.)

The Linnaean taxonomy hierarchy from top to bottom:

1. domain

2. kingdom

3. phylum

4. class

5. order

6. family

7. genus

8. species

9. subspecies (occasionally used)

Why is so much of it still in use?

The system has been continuously refined over the years with different groups being added when a new discovery is made.

Linnaean taxonomy is still in use because the hierarchical system is very efficient in presenting information.

For example, the Linnaean classification of humans gives much information about our characteristics:

Domain: Eukaryota

We are eukaryotes, which means we belong to organisms that are composed of more than one cell. (unlike prokaryotes)

Family: Animalia

We are animals (as opposed to plants and fungi eukaryotes), which means we have practically all animal features.

Phylum: Chordata

We are vertebrates, which means we have a spine. (Unlike jellyfish and such)

Class: Mammalia

We have mammalian features, which included being warm blooded, giving live births and feeding on milk.

Order: Primates

We have primate features, five fingers, non-specific teeth, binocular vision etc.

Family: Hominidae

Hominid features: no tail, omnivorous diet, nails instead of claws etc.

Genus: Homo

We are the only modern species of the genus homo. Features include bipedalism. Other living things may have several species within the same genus.

Species: Homo sapiens

The unique name given to our species with all the features of the above hierarchy.

Subspecies: Homo sapiens sapiens

Some classify modern humans as this subspecies due to differing classifications of other (extinct) species of the genus homo.

Due to efficient manner the information of living organisms is presented, the Linnaean taxonomy will continue to be used.

Answer 2

The taxonomic system invented by Carl Linné. We still use variations of it today to understand how organisms are related to each other, but the system specifically invented by Linné has been obsolete for centuries. It ordered animals based on similar physical characteristics, even if they were not closely related at the genetic level. Linné was the first to use a binomial nomenclature (i.e., Homo sapiens) to name organisms as well, a convention we still use, and which can be considered a part of Linnaean taxonomy.

The most useful facet of Linné's system was that it arranged all organisms into hierarchial ranks (kingdom, phylum, etc) called taxa, each nested taxa being a more specific group of organisms, down to the species level.

Today, at least among professional biologists, the Linnaean system has been replaced by cladistics, a rankless classification system based on genetic relatedness and evolutionary descent. Binomial nomenclature, while still immensely popular, requires replacement, due to its reliance on ranks which don't exist in cladistics. This is an area of active development, and so nothing can be said on what might replace binomial nomenclature, but it will be replaced. Probably within the next 10 years.

Answer 3

Linnaean taxonomy is a method of classifying living things, originally devised by (and named for) Carolus Linnaeus, although it has changed considerably since his time. The greatest innovation of Linnaeus, and still the most important aspect of this system, is the general use of binomial nomenclature, the combination of a genus name and a single specific epithet to uniquely identify each species of organism. For example, the human species is uniquely identified by the binomial Homo sapiens. No other species of organism can have this binomial. Prior to Linnaean taxonomy, animals were classified according to their mode of movement.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnaean_taxonomy

Answer 4

The Linnaean system is a method of classifying living things. It was developed by Carl Linnaeus and is a way of classifying based on hierarchy.

Answer 5

Taxonomy. There are 6 kingdoms. Kingdom,Phylum,Class,Order,Family,Genus,and Species. A way to remember is Kings play Chess on fuzzy green squares.

Answer 6

Binomial nomenclature- 2 worded naming system used to classify organisms

Answer 7

Carl Linnaeus created the binomial nomenclature, where species are identified by their Genus and species name in Latin.